month
a month of Sundays
An extremely long, often indefinite period of time. Often used in negative constructions, especially to mean "never." A: "Do you think Samantha will agree to go on a date with Jake?" B: "Not in a month of Sundays!" We'll be here for a month of Sundays trying to sort through all this paperwork!
See also: month, of, Sundays
a pinch and a punch for the first of the month
A childhood taunt uttered while literally pinching and punching someone on the first day of a new month. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, Ireland. A: "Hey, Tom—a pinch and a punch for the first of the month!" B: "Ouch! Grow up, Barry!"
See also: and, first, month, of, pinch, punch
before last
Before the last such time period. This phrase is usually used with quantities of time, such as years, months, and weeks. I can't believe that Aunt Marie is in the hospital. I just talked to her the week before last, and she was totally fine! I got my degree the year before last.
See also: before, last
by the day
Per day; at a daily rate. You can't afford to miss work when you get paid by the day. I'm renting this hotel room by the day because I could get my next travel assignment at any time.
See also: by
by the month
Per month; at a monthly rate. I'm renting this apartment by the month because I could get my next travel assignment at any time.
See also: by, month
days running
Consecutive days. If you've been sick for 10 days running, you should probably go to the doctor.
See also: days, running
flavor of the month
Something temporary. The phrase is often used to describe fleeting romantic relationships. I wouldn't get too attached to Katie, she's just Ralph's flavor of the month—they'll break up in no time. You change majors all the time, and biology is just the flavor of the month, trust me!
See also: flavor, month, of
for (some) months running
For (some number of) consecutive months. We've been waiting to close on the house for three months running—when will this process finally be over?
See also: month, running
haven't seen you in a month of Sundays
A phrase used when one encounters someone after an extremely long, often indefinite period of time. Hey, Al, haven't seen you in a month of Sundays! How have you been?
See also: month, of, seen, Sundays
in a coon's age
In an exceptionally long period of time. Based on the folk belief that raccoons (shortened colloquially to "coons") have a longer-than-average lifespan. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I haven't seen you in a coon's age! How have you been? I haven't been on a vacation in a coon's age.
See also: age
in a month of Sundays
1. At any point; under any circumstances. Used in the negative to convey that something will never happen. Not in a month of Sundays did I think that I would actually win the lottery! A: "Do you think Samantha will agree to go on a date with Jake?" B: "Not in a month of Sundays!"
2. In an exceptionally long period of time. I haven't seen you in a month of Sundays! How have you been? I haven't been on a vacation in a month of Sundays.
See also: month, of, Sundays
month after month
Repeatedly for consecutive months, usually for a long, indefinite period of time. I sometimes feel trapped by all the bills I have to pay, month after month.
See also: after, month
month by month
1. During the course of each consecutive month. We've steadily been growing the userbase month by month.
2. Considering a month in comparison to the one before and after it. I think you need to look at your expenses month by month to see where you can try to save some money.
See also: by, month
months on end
Several months in a row. We've been waiting to close on the house for months on end—when will this process finally be over?
See also: end, month, on
months running
Consecutive months. The phrase is typically preceded by a number. We've been waiting to close on the house for three months running—when will this process finally be over?
See also: month, running
never in a month of Sundays
Not at any point; under absolutely no circumstances. Never in a month of Sundays did I think that I would actually win the lottery! A: "Do you think Samantha will agree to go on a date with Jake?" B: "Never in a month of Sundays!"
See also: month, never, of, Sundays
not in a month of Sundays
Not at any point; under absolutely no circumstances. Not in a month of Sundays did I think that I would actually win the lottery! A: "Do you think Samantha will agree to go on a date with Jake?" B: "Not in a month of Sundays!"
See also: month, not, of, Sundays
spend (some amount of time) in (some place)
To be in some building, town, country, etc., for some amount of time. I spent a lot of my childhood in the library, learning about as many things as I could. We're only spending a couple of days in Rome, so we have to be very pragmatic about what we can see. I spent about four years in Tokyo teaching English before eventually moving back to Canada.
See also: amount, of, spend
that/(one's) time of the month
The time, usually once a month, at which a woman begins to menstruate. I've had horrible cramps and have been really tired lately. It must be coming up on that time of the month again. A: "I made a joke about it being Sally's time of the month, and she punched me in the face!" B: "Good for her. You had it coming."
See also: month, of, that, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
by the day
one day at a time. I don't know when I'll have to leave town, so I rent this room by the day.
See also: by
by the month
one month at a time. Not many apartments are rented by the month. I needed a car for a short while, so I rented one by the month.
See also: by, month
days running
and weeks running; months running; years runningdays in a series; months in a series; etc. (Follows a number.) I had a bad cold for five days running. For two years running, I brought work home from the office every night.
See also: days, running
(I) haven't seen you in a month of Sundays.
Rur. I haven't seen you in a long time. Tom: Hi, Bill Haven't seen you in a month of Sundays! Bill: Hi, Tom. Long time no see. Bob: Well, Fred! Come right in! Haven't seen you in a month of Sundays! Fred: Good to see you, Uncle Bob.
See also: month, of, seen, Sundays
in a coon's age
and in a month of SundaysRur. in a very long time. (The coon is a raccoon.) How are you? I haven't seen you in a coon's age. I haven't had a piece of apple pie this good in a coon's age.
See also: age
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
by the day
Also, by the hour or week or month or year . According to a specific time period, as in I'm renting this car by the day, or He's being paid by the hour. This usage generally describes some kind of rate. [1400s]
See also: by
month of Sundays, a
A long time, as in I haven't seen Barbara in a month of Sundays. This expression, which would literally mean thirty weeks, has been used hyperbolically since it was first recorded in 1832. One writer suggests it originally connoted a long dreary time, since games and other kinds of amusement used to be forbidden on Sunday.
See also: month, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
flavour of the month
mainly BRITISHCOMMON If someone or something is flavour of the month, they are very popular at the moment. Note: `Flavour' is spelled `flavor' in American English. One minute you're flavour of the month, top of the bestseller charts, and the next minute you're forgotten. Filmstars seem to be interested in whatever cause is the latest flavour of the month. Note: People sometimes mention other periods of time such as year, week, or moment instead of month. Monetarism was the flavour of the year. Suddenly, he was flavour of the moment on both sides of the Atlantic. Note: These expressions are often used to suggest that the popularity of someone or something is unlikely to last long. Note: American ice cream parlours used to select a particular flavour of the month in order to encourage people to try different flavours of ice cream.
See also: flavour, month, of
not in a month of Sundays
ornever in a month of Sundays
If you say that something will not or will never happen in a month of Sundays, you mean it is very unlikely to happen. Their scheme will never work — not in a month of Sundays.
See also: month, not, of, Sundays
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
flavour of the month
someone or something that enjoys a short period of great popularity; the current fashion.This phrase originated in a marketing campaign in American ice-cream parlours in the 1940s, when a particular flavour of ice cream would be singled out each month for special promotion.
See also: flavour, month, of
a month of Sundays
a very long, seemingly endless period of time.This expression may be a reference to the traditionally slow passage of Sundays as a result of religious restrictions on activity or entertainment. In a letter written in 1849 , G. E. Jewsbury talked of the absence of mail deliveries on Sundays, remarking: ‘If I don't get a better letter from you…you may pass “a month of Sundays” at breakfast without any letter from me’.
1998 Country Life All in all, the Ministry of Agriculture is gaining the no-nonsense, get-your-coats-off atmosphere that Jack Cunningham could not have managed in a month of Sundays.
See also: month, of, Sundays
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
flavour of the ˈmonth
(especially British English) a person who is especially popular at the moment: If I were you, I’d keep quiet at the staff meeting. You’re not exactly flavour of the month with the boss at the moment.In the past, ice cream companies in the US would choose a particular flavour each month to advertise in their stores.See also: flavour, month, of
the day, week, month, etc. before ˈlast
the day, week, etc. just before the most recent one; two days, weeks, etc. ago: I haven’t seen him since the summer before last.See also: before, last
month after ˈmonth
over a period of several months: Prices continue to rise month after month.See also: after, month
ˌmonth by ˈmonth
as the months pass; each month: Her pain increased month by month.See also: by, month
(not for/in) a ˌmonth of ˈSundays
(spoken) used to emphasize that something will never happen: ‘Do you think she’ll be able to sell the house at that price?’ ‘Not in a month of Sundays. It’s far too much.’See also: month, of, Sundays
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
month of Sundays
Informal An indefinitely long period of time: It will take you a month of Sundays to chop all that wood.
See also: month, of, Sundays
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
flavor of the month
A briefly prominent or popular person, product, or trend. The term originated in the 1930s in the ice cream industry, where a particular flavor of ice cream was promoted each month. Since the late 1900s, it has been used ironically to comment on a short-lived success of some kind. For example, “Their new album is the flavor of the month, but I doubt that it’ll survive.”
See also: flavor, month, of
month of Sundays, a
A very long time. It is doubtful that this expression, which dates from the early nineteenth century, was ever meant literally—that is, a period of thirty Sundays (or weeks). It first appeared in print in Frederick Marryat’s Newton Forster (1832) and was surely a cliché by the time Ogden Nash played on it in “My Dear, How Did You Ever Think up This Delicious Salad?” (1935): “The salad course nowadays seems to be a month of sundaes.” The British version, a week of Sundays, is never heard in America.
See also: month, of
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- a month of Sundays
- month of Sundays
- month of Sundays, a
- Sundays
- breathe
- breathe (something) to (someone)
- do (something) to death
- do something to death
- cough it up
- Cough it up!